Page "Trade union" Paragraph 46

The diversity in the AFL faltered when many of the black members were excluded.

Gompers only wanted skilled workers representing his union and many black people were not considered skilled.

The AFL claimed to not exclude the black members because of their race but because they were not qualified for the part.

" So as long as wages rose, and they did, hours fell, and they did, security increased, and it appeared to, the AFL could grow fat while neglecting millions of labourers doomed to lives of misery and want.

" Even black workers considered skilled enough to fit the part were generally excluded from the Union.

The AFL conducted literacy tests which had the effect of excluding immigrants and blacks.

Regardless of black members being excluded, the AFL was the most prevalent union federation in America before the mid-1940s.

The union was composed of over 10 million members before it combined with the Congress of Industrial Organization ( CIO ).